YOUNGSTERS in Darlington hope to have helped set a world record by taking part in an international simultaneous sing.

About 220 pupils at Firthmoor Primary School sang a specially written tune, Tell Me Why, along with more than 100,000 children worldwide yesterday.

Each child gave £1 and the event raised more than £100,000 for national charity Sargent Cancer Care for Children.

Zena Fernandes, from the charity, said 1,080 schools joined in the sing. "We won't know about the record until January when Guinness gets back to us, but we think we have set a new record."

Firthmoor school teacher Anne Beetham said the children enjoyed taking part.

"It went really well, the children sang well and we really hope we have helped set a record."

More than 200 youngsters in north Durham also raised their voices yesterday for the effort.

Pupils from ten primary, secondary and special schools in the Derwentside area gathered in Tanfield Comprehensive and were then linked by radio and video to a concert in Belfast's Odyssey Arena, for the mass sing-in, which featured young singing star Declan Galbraith.

Joanne Alderson, music co-ordinator at Harelaw School, near Stanley, County Durham, which also took part in the event, said: "We are delighted and excited at being involved in establishing a new world record and supporting a really worthwhile cause at the same time."